U.S. patent number 9,102,244 [Application Number 12/452,274] was granted by the patent office on 2015-08-11 for operation apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The grantee listed for this patent is Kazuhiro Kawachi. Invention is credited to Kazuhiro Kawachi.
United States Patent |
9,102,244 |
Kawachi |
August 11, 2015 |
Operation apparatus
Abstract
Provided is an operation apparatus capable of securely
preventing an erroneous operation in adjusting a seat and the like
from being caused by a passenger. A seat shape image Sg
representing an outer profile of a seat, and adjustable item
buttons Tb representing names of movable portions, respectively, of
the seat are displayed on a display screen. When a position, on a
touch panel, corresponding to a position, on the display screen, of
one of the adjustable item buttons Tb is touched, adjustment
direction arrows Ty indicating directions, respectively, in which
one of the movable portions corresponding to the one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb is movable are displayed on the display
screen.
Inventors: |
Kawachi; Kazuhiro
(Nishikamo-gun, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kawachi; Kazuhiro |
Nishikamo-gun |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
(Toyota, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
40259664 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/452,274 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2008 |
PCT
Filed: |
July 14, 2008 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2008/062687 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
December 23, 2009 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2009/011331 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
January 22, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20100107121 A1 |
Apr 29, 2010 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 17, 2007 [JP] |
|
|
2007-185806 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
2/0244 (20130101); B60N 2/0228 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
3/00 (20060101); B60N 2/02 (20060101); G06F
3/01 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;715/823,771
;345/173 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 031 457 |
|
Aug 2000 |
|
EP |
|
U 63-102530 |
|
Jul 1988 |
|
JP |
|
U 2-254 |
|
Jan 1990 |
|
JP |
|
A 9-142186 |
|
Jun 1997 |
|
JP |
|
A 10-512214 |
|
Nov 1998 |
|
JP |
|
A 2000-225921 |
|
Aug 2000 |
|
JP |
|
A 2000-356962 |
|
Dec 2000 |
|
JP |
|
A 2005-153684 |
|
Jun 2005 |
|
JP |
|
A 2007-76381 |
|
Mar 2007 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
International Search Report issued in corresponding International
Application No. PCT/JP2008/062687, mailed Aug. 19, 2008 with
translation. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Ng; Amy
Assistant Examiner: Vu; Toan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oliff PLC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An operation apparatus for operating a seat mounted in a
vehicle, the seat having a plurality of movable portions, the
operation apparatus comprising: a display; a touch panel that
detects a touch position, on a screen of the display, having been
touched by a user, and generates an operation signal which
represents a position, on the screen, corresponding to the touch
position; and an electronic control unit including logic that, when
executed, performs the steps of: displaying, on the screen, only
one seat shape image representing an outer profile of the seat
having the plurality of movable portions which represent all
movable portions included in the seat mounted in the vehicle and
which are each a part of the seat, together with adjustable item
text images, each of which (1) corresponds to, (2) includes a name
of, and (3) forms an area allowing the user to select via the touch
panel, one of the plurality of movable portions of the seat, such
that the movable portions on the seat shape image are connected to
the respective corresponding adjustable item text images with
lines; selecting, upon the touch panel generating a first signal as
the operation signal, one of the plurality of movable portions
corresponding to one of the adjustable item text images displayed
on the screen, the one of the adjustable item text images being
displayed at a position, on the screen, represented by the first
signal, while having the seat shape image displayed together with
the adjustable item text images; starting display, after one of the
plurality of movable portions is selected, of arrow icons
representing directions, respectively, in which the selected one of
the plurality of movable portions is movable, and displaying the
arrow icons, so as not to intersect the lines, together with the
adjustable item text images and the seat shape image, which are
displayed together, on the screen; and outputting, upon the touch
panel generating a second signal as the operation signal, an
instruction signal for moving the selected one of the plurality of
movable portions in one of the directions which corresponds to one
of the arrow icons displayed on the screen, the one of the arrow
icons being displayed at a position, on the screen, represented by
the second signal.
2. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
electronic control unit further performs the step of switching to
highlight and display, in accordance with the selected one of the
plurality of movable portions, a portion, on the seat shape image,
which corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of movable
portions.
3. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
electronic control unit further performs the step of switching to
highlight and display, in accordance with the selected one of the
plurality of movable portions, a corresponding one of the
adjustable item text images, the corresponding one of the
adjustable item text images indicating a name of the selected one
of the plurality of movable portions.
4. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
electronic control unit further performs the step of selecting,
based on the operation signal, one of the arrow icons displayed on
the screen, and wherein the step of outputting an instruction
signal further includes outputting the instruction signal for
moving, in accordance with the selected one of the arrow icons, one
of the plurality of movable portions which is associated with the
one of the arrow icons, in one of the directions which corresponds
to the one of the arrow icons.
5. The operation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
electronic control unit further performs the step of switching to
highlight and display, in accordance with the selected one of the
arrow icons, the one of the arrow icons.
6. A method for operating a seat mounted in a vehicle, the seat
having a plurality of movable portions, the method comprising:
detecting a touch position having been touched by a user, and
generating an operation signal which represents a position, on a
screen of a display, corresponding to the touch position;
displaying, on the screen, only one seat shape image representing
an outer profile of the seat having the plurality of movable
portions which represent all movable portions included in the seat
mounted in the vehicle and which are each a part of the seat,
together with adjustable item text images, each of which (1)
corresponds to, (2) includes a name of, and (3) forms an area
allowing the user to select via the touch panel, one of the
plurality of movable portions of the seat, such that the movable
portions on the seat shape image are connected to the respective
corresponding adjustable item text images with lines; selecting,
upon the touch panel generating a first signal as the operation
signal, one of the plurality of movable portions corresponding to
one of the adjustable item text images displayed on the screen, the
one of the adjustable item text images being displayed at a
position, on the screen, represented by the first signal, while
having the seat shape image displayed together with the adjustable
item text images; starting displaying, after one of the plurality
of movable portions is selected, of arrow icons representing
directions, respectively, in which the selected one of the
plurality of movable portions is movable, and displaying the arrow
icons, so as not to intersect with the lines, together with the
adjustable item text images and the seat shape image, which are
displayed together, on the screen; and outputting, upon the touch
panel generating a second signal as the operation signal, an
instruction signal for moving the selected one of the plurality of
movable portions in one of the directions which corresponds to one
of the arrow icons displayed on the screen, the one of the arrow
icons being displayed at a position, on the screen, represented by
the second signal.
7. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
display includes an allowable movement range image on which a
current position image represented a current length of the selected
one of the plurality of movable portions is superimposed, the
allowable movement range image being displayed in such a manner as
to be superimposed onto the seat shape image.
8. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrow
icons are displayed on the screen in such a manner as to be
superimposed onto the seat shape image.
9. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
displaying the adjustable item text images in such a manner so as
to be divided to the right side and the left side of the seat shape
image.
10. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
electronic control unit includes logic which, when executed,
further performs the steps of: while the touch panel is
continuously detecting that the position on the screen represented
by the second signal is touched by the user, displaying an
animation in which the movable portion is moved after outputting
the instructions signal for moving the movable portion in the
direction corresponding to the respective arrow icon; and stopping
displaying the animation when the touch panel does not detect that
the position on the screen represented by the second signal is
touched by the user.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an operation apparatus, and more
particularly to an operation apparatus having a display
section.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventionally, a seat adjustment lever of a seat adjustment
mechanism mounted to a car is positioned on a side surface of a
seat, which is a position at which a passenger sitting on the seat
has difficulty in visually identifying the lever directly.
Therefore, the passenger needs to adjust respective components of
the seat by groping for and operating the seat adjustment lever.
Further, in recent years, adjustable portions are increased in an
in-vehicle seat and a handle so as to enhance comfort for a
passenger of a car. However, a space in which the seat adjustment
lever is to be positioned is limited to, for example, a part of a
side surface of a seat. Therefore, even when the adjustable
portions are increased, it is necessary to adjust all the
adjustable portions by using the seat adjustment lever positioned
in the limited space. Accordingly, when the adjustable portions of
an in-vehicle seat and a handle are increased, a mechanism of the
seat adjustment lever becomes complicated. When the mechanism of
the seat adjustment lever becomes complicated, an erroneous
operation is more likely to be caused by a passenger due to the
seat adjustment lever being positioned at a position at which
direct visual identification is difficult. Further, it is needless
to say that, even if, for example, a seat adjustment mechanism
other than the seat adjustment lever is positioned at a position at
which a passenger can visually identify it easily, when the seat
adjustment mechanism becomes complicated, an erroneous operation is
more likely to be caused by a passenger.
Therefore, various adjustment mechanisms have been conventionally
suggested so as to enable multiple adjustable portions to be easily
adjusted without causing an error. FIG. 16 is a diagram
illustrating an outline of a configuration, for a seat position
adjustment, which is included in an in-vehicle equipment operation
apparatus 90, disclosed in Patent Document 1, for enabling an easy
operation of in-vehicle equipments. The in-vehicle equipment
operation apparatus 90 includes: an image data storage section 901;
a touch display 902; a display control section 903; a communication
control section 904; and a seat adjustment section 905.
The image data storage section 901 stores images, such as arrow
buttons and a shape of a seat, to be displayed on the touch display
902.
The touch display 902 displays an image of image data which is read
from the image data storage section 901 by the display control
section 903. Further, the touch display 902 transmits, to the
display control section 903, a position, on a screen, which has
been touched by a user.
The display control section 903 reads image data stored in the
image data storage section 901 and causes the touch display 902 to
display an image. Further, the display control section 903
determines one of the arrow buttons which has been touched by a
user, based on the position, on the screen of the touch display
902, which has been touched by the user. The display control
section 903 causes the communication control section 904 to
generate a seat adjustment signal As for operating the seat
adjustment section 905, based on the one of the arrow buttons which
is determined as having been touched.
The communication control section 904 generates the seat adjustment
signal As for causing the seat adjustment section 905 to perform an
operation corresponding to the arrow button which has been touched
by the user and is included in the arrow buttons displayed on the
touch display 902.
The seat adjustment section 905 drives an in-vehicle seat adjusting
motor, which is not shown, and adjusts a front/back position and
the height of the entire in-vehicle seat, based on the seat
adjustment signal As generated by the communication control section
904.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a seat adjustment screen, which
is included in display screens to be displayed on the touch display
902 of the in-vehicle equipment operation apparatus 90 shown in
FIG. 16. On the display screen of the touch display 902 shown in
FIG. 17, displayed are a seat shape image 9041, arrows 9042
indicating directions in which the seat adjustable portions can be
adjusted; and a return button (setting end button) 9043.
When a passenger touches one of the arrows 9042 displayed on the
display screen of the touch display 902 as shown in FIG. 17, the
adjustable portion of the in-vehicle seat which is associated with
the one of the arrows 9042 can be adjusted in the direction
indicated by the one of the arrows 9042. Thus, the passenger is
allowed to adjust the seat by using the touch display 902 without
operating an adjustment lever which is difficult to visually
identify directly, so that an erroneous operation for the seat
adjustment may be less likely to be caused by the passenger.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.
2005-153684
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
However, in recent years, the number of adjustable portions, for a
seat, including, for example, a headrest, a shoulder support, a
reclining portion, a lumbar support, a side support, a cushion
length, and a cushion front edge position, is increased. Further,
not only specific adjustable portions of the seat can be adjusted
but also the position of the seat can be entirely adjusted, for
example, in the front/back direction and upward/downward direction.
Therefore, in a conventional art as shown in FIG. 16 in which all
the images including a seat shape and the arrow buttons indicating
the directions in which the seat adjustable portions can be
adjusted, are simultaneously displayed, increase of the adjustable
portions leads to increase of the number of arrows displayed on the
screen, so that a lot of arrows are displayed substantially
adjacent to each other. Accordingly, it is difficult to recognize
correspondences between arrows and adjustable portions, and an
arrow adjacent to an arrow to be touched is more likely to be
erroneously touched. As a result, it is impossible to reduce a
possibility that an erroneous operation for seat adjustment is
caused by a passenger.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an
operation apparatus capable of securely preventing an erroneous
operation in adjusting an object, such as a seat, to be operated
from being caused by a user.
Solution to the Problems
In order to attain the object mentioned above, the present
invention has the following features.
A first aspect is directed to an operation apparatus for operating
an object to be operated, the object to be operated having a
plurality of movable portions, and the operation apparatus
comprises: a display section; an operation section that generates
an operation signal based on an input operation performed by a
user; a shape image display control section that displays, on a
display screen of the display section, a shape image representing
an outer profile of the object to be operated; a selection section
that selects one of the plurality of movable portions, based on the
operation signal; an arrow display control section that displays,
in accordance with one of the plurality of movable portions being
selected by the selection section, arrow images representing
directions, respectively, in which the selected one of the
plurality of movable portions is movable, and the shape image, on
the display screen; and a movement instruction section that outputs
an instruction signal for moving, when the arrow images are
displayed on the display screen by the arrow display control
section, the one of the plurality of movable portions which is
selected by the selection section, in one of the directions which
corresponds to one of the arrow images, based on the operation
signal.
In a second aspect based on the first aspect, a highlight display
control section that switches to highlight and display, in
accordance with one of the plurality of movable portions being
selected by the selection section, a portion, on the shape image,
which corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of movable
portions is further provided.
In a third aspect based on one of the first aspect or the second
aspect, an adjustable item display section that displays, on the
display screen, the shape image, and adjustable item images, the
adjustable item images corresponding to the plurality of movable
portions and indicating names of the plurality of movable portions,
respectively, and an item highlight display control section that
switches to highlight and display, in accordance with one of the
plurality of movable portions being selected by the selection
section, a corresponding one of the adjustable item images, the
corresponding one of the adjustable item images indicating a name
of the selected one of the plurality of movable portions, are
further provided.
In a fourth aspect based on any one of the first to the third
aspects, the selection section further selects, based on the
operation signal, one of the arrow images displayed on the display
screen by the arrow display control section, and the movement
instruction section outputs an instruction signal for moving, in
accordance with one of the arrow images being selected by the
selection section, one of the plurality of movable portions which
is associated with the one of the arrow images, in one of the
directions which corresponds to the one of the arrow images.
In a fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, an arrow highlight
display control section that switches to highlight and display, in
accordance with one of the arrow images being selected by the
selection section, the one of the arrow images is further
provided.
In a sixth aspect based on any one of the first to the fifth
aspects, the operation section includes a touch panel positioned on
the display screen.
In a seventh aspect based on any one of the first to the fifth
aspects, the operation section includes an input device positioned
at a position distant from the display section.
In an eighth aspect based on any one of the first to the seventh
aspects, the object to be operated includes a seat mounted in a
vehicle.
Effect of the Invention
According to the first aspect, when one of the movable portions of
the object to be operated is selected, only the arrow images which
indicate directions, respectively, in which the selected one of the
movable portions is movable, and the shape image of the object to
be operated are displayed on the display screen of the display
section. Therefore, according to the first aspect, it is possible
to provide the operation apparatus capable of preventing multiple
arrow images from being displayed on the display screen so as to be
substantially close to each other, thereby securely preventing an
erroneous operation from being caused by a user.
According to the second aspect based on the first aspect, when one
of the movable portions is selected, a portion, on the shape image,
which corresponds to the selected one of the movable portions is
highlighted and displayed. Therefore, according to the second
aspect, a user is allowed to confirm the currently selected movable
portion based on an image representing the shape thereof.
According to the third aspect based on one of the first aspect or
the second aspect, the adjustable item images representing names of
the movable portions, respectively, and the shape image are further
displayed on the display screen, and, when one of the movable
portions is selected, one of the adjustable item images
representing a name of the selected one of the movable portions is
highlighted and displayed. Therefore, according to the third
aspect, a user is able to know, at the same time when one of the
movable portions is selected, the name of the one of the movable
portions which is currently selected
According to the fourth aspect based on any one of the first to the
third aspects, when one of the arrow images which are displayed on
the display screen with the shape image is selected, one of the
movable portions which are associated with the selected one of the
arrow images is moved in the direction corresponding to the
selected one of the arrow images. Therefore, according to the
fourth aspect, a user is allowed to confirm the movable portion and
the movement direction which are currently selected, and then move
the movable portion.
According to the fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, when one
of the arrow images is selected, the selected one of the arrow
images is highlighted when displayed. Therefore, according to the
fifth aspect, a user is allowed to confirm that the selected
movable portion is being currently moved in the selected movement
direction.
According to the sixth aspect based on any one of the first to the
fifth aspects, the operation section includes a touch panel.
Therefore, according to the sixth aspect, it is possible to provide
an operation environment which is easily applicable to a user, who
is allowed to directly touch and operate an image displayed by the
display section.
According to the seventh aspect based on any one of the first to
the fifth aspects, the operation section includes an input device
positioned at a position distant from the display section.
Therefore, according to the seventh aspect, the input device can be
positioned at a position at which multiple users can easily use the
input device.
According to the eighth aspect based on any one of the first to the
seventh aspects, the object to be operated includes a seat mounted
in a vehicle. Therefore, according to the eighth aspect, it is
possible to provide the operation apparatus which enables easy
operation of multiple movable portions which are included in a seat
of a vehicle and are difficult to operate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an
operation apparatus according to a first embodiment
FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a process performed by a control
section according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary menu screen according
to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary seat adjustment
screen according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an adjustable item image and an
adjustable portion which are highlighted and displayed.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an adjustment direction arrow
which is highlighted and displayed.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation apparatus according
to a second and a third embodiments.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a part of a process performed by a
control section according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an allowable-movement range image
and a current position image.
FIG. 10A is a flow chart showing a process performed by a control
section according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 10B is a flow chart showing a process performed by the control
section according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation apparatus according
to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary operation section
according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the exemplary operation section
according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 14A is a flow chart showing a process performed by a control
section according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 14B is a flow chart showing a process performed by the control
section according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an adjustable item image having
its frame highlighted and displayed.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a part of a configuration
of a conventional in-vehicle equipment operation apparatus.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of the
conventional in-vehicle equipment operation apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS
100, 200, 300, 400 operation apparatus 101 display operation
section 102, 201, 301, 402 display control section 103, 202, 302,
403 control section 104, 203, 303 adjustment section 105 storage
section 401 display section 404 operation section
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a
configuration of an operation apparatus 100 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. The operation apparatus
according to the first embodiment includes: a display/operation
section 101; a display control section 102; a control section 103;
an adjustment section 104; and a storage section 105.
The display/operation section 101 displays an image read from the
storage section 105 by the display control section 102. Further,
the display/operation section 101 is a touch display having a touch
panel on a display screen, and detects a touch position touched on
the touch panel by a user, and notifies the control section 103 of
touch position information Tij indicating a position, on the
display screen, corresponding to the touch position.
The display control section 102 reads image data from the storage
section 105 in response to an instruction from the control section
103, and causes the display/operation section 101 to display an
image on the display screen thereof. Further, the display control
section 102 switches to highlight (emphasizes) a part of the image
and a specific display item which are displayed on the display
screen, in response to an instruction from the control section
103.
The control section 103 identifies a kind of an item button touched
on the display screen by a user, based on the touch position
information Tij notified by the display/operation section 101, and
performs a function corresponding to the button. Further, the
control section 103 determines a necessary display image in
accordance with the function corresponding to the item button
touched by the user, and issues an instruction to the display
control section 102. An operation performed by the control section
103 will be described below in detail.
The adjustment section 104 moves respective movable portions in
accordance with an instruction from the control section 103.
Although, according to the present invention, various adjustable
objects (objects to be operated) may be adjusted by the adjustment
section 104, an example in which the adjustment section 104 is a
seat adjustment section for adjusting the respective movable
portions of the seat will be described in the present embodiment.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the movable portions
which can be adjusted by the adjustment section 104 described above
may include, for example, a headrest, a shoulder support, a
reclining portion, a lumbar support, a side support, a vertical
position adjustment, a front/back position adjustment, a heater, a
ventilator, a cushion length, and a length of a cushion front
edge.
The storage section 105 stores image data required by the
display/operation section 101 for displaying a display screen.
Next, an operation performed by the control section 103 will be
described in detail. FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an operation
performed by the control section 103. Hereinafter, with reference
to the flow chart shown in FIG. 2, an operation performed by the
control section 103 will be described. A process shown in the flow
chart of FIG. 2 starts when a user touches a seat button on a menu
screen displayed on the display screen of the display/operation
section 101 as shown in FIG. 3. Further, it is needless to say that
kinds of items displayed on the menu screen shown in FIG. 3 are
examples, and the kinds of the items may be increased or reduced as
necessary.
Referring to FIG. 2 again, the description will be continued. In
step S100, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to display a seat adjustment screen for a driver's seat
on the display screen of the display/operation section 101. More
specifically, in step S100, the control section 103 instructs the
display control section 102 to display: adjustable item buttons Tb
indicating movable portions (FIG. 4 shows seat movable portions for
a driver's seat), respectively, by using characters, for each seat
of a car; a seat shape image Sg indicating, as a picture, a seat
shape of the driver's seat; a front passenger's seat button Jb for
displaying an adjustment screen for a front passenger's seat; and a
return button Mb for displaying a menu screen shown in FIG. 3, on
the display screen of the display/operation section 101, as shown
in FIG. 4. When the control section 103 completes a process step of
step S100, the control section 103 advances the process to step
S105. It is added that the adjustable item buttons Tb, the front
passenger's seat button Jb, and the return button Mb as described
above are generically referred to as item buttons.
It is needless to say that, according to the present invention, the
images and the buttons which are displayed on the display screen of
the display/operation section 101 in step S100 are not limited to
the images and the buttons as described above, and other images and
buttons representing other functions may be displayed. Further,
according to the present invention, the kinds of the adjustable
item buttons Tb include, for example, a headrest button, a shoulder
support button, a reclining button, a lumbar support button, a side
support button, a vertical position adjustment button, a front/back
position adjustment button, a heater button, a ventilator button, a
cushion length button, and a cushion front edge button, as shown in
FIG. 4. However, it is needless to say that, when a seat shape of a
driver's seat and a seat shape of a front passenger's seat are
different from each other, or when the movable portions are
different between a driver's seat and a front passenger's seat, the
kinds of the adjustable item buttons Tb may be increased or reduced
depending on the seat shape and the movable portions of each seat.
For example, in general, a foot rest portion known as an ottoman
may be added as the movable portion to a front passenger's seat,
and when the adjustment screen for the seat having this movable
portion is displayed, the seat shape image Sg including an ottoman
may be displayed on the display screen instead of the seat shape
image Sg shown in FIG. 4, and the adjustable item button Tb
corresponding to the ottoman may be added as one of the adjustable
item buttons Tb.
In step S105, the control section 103 determines whether or not the
display screen has been touched by a user, based on the touch
position information Tij notified by the display/operation section
101. When, in step S105, the control section 103 determines that
the display screen has been touched, the control section 103
advances the process to step S110. On the other hand, when the
control section 103 determines in step S105 that the display screen
is not touched, the process step of step S105 is repeated.
In step S110, the control section 103 determines whether or not an
item button having been touched by a user is one of the adjustable
item buttons Tb, based on the touch position information Tij
notified in step S105 by the display/operation section 101. When
the control section 103 determines in step S110 that one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb has been touched, the control section
103 advances the process to step S115. On the other hand, the
control section 103 determines in step S110 that none of the
adjustable item buttons Tb is touched, the control section 103
advances the process to step S140.
In step S115, the control section 103 determines whether or not one
of adjustment direction arrows Ty has been displayed when the
process step of step S105 is performed. When the control section
103 determines in step S115 that one of the adjustment direction
arrows Ty has been displayed, the control section 103 advances the
process to step S120. On the other hand, when the control section
103 determines in step S115 that none of the adjustment direction
arrows Ty has been displayed, the control section 103 skips the
process step of step S120, and advances the process to step
S125.
In step S120, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to erase, from the display screen of the
display/operation section 101, the one of the adjustment direction
arrows Ty which is determined as having been displayed when the
process step of step S105 is performed. When the control section
103 completes the process step of step S120, the control section
103 advances the process to step S125.
In step S125, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to switches to display, in a normal way, one of the
item buttons, which has been highlighted and displayed when the
process step of step S105 is performed. When the control section
103 completes the process step of step S125, the control section
103 advances the process to step S130.
In step S130, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to switches to highlight and display one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb which has been touched by a user in step
S105, as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows the display screen on which
one of the adjustable item buttons Tb which corresponds to the
cushion length and has been touched by a user is highlighted and
displayed, as an exemplary display screen which has been processed
in step S130. When the control section 103 completes the process
step of step S130, the control section 103 advances the process to
step S135.
In step S135, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to display, on the display screen of the
display/operation section 101, the adjustment direction arrows Ty
which indicate directions (directions in which movement is
possible) in which the movable portion corresponding to the one of
the adjustable item buttons Tb which has been touched by a user can
be adjusted, as shown in FIG. 5. When the control section 103
completes the process step of step S135, the control section 103
returns the process to step S105. In step S135, the control section
103 may switch to further highlight and display a portion, on the
seat shape image Sg, corresponding to the movable portion
represented by the one of the adjustable item buttons Tb which has
been touched by the use, as shown in FIG. 5.
In step S140, the control section 103 determines whether or not one
of the adjustment direction arrows Ty is touched by a user, based
on the touch position information Tij notified by the
display/operation section 101 in step S105. When the control
section 103 determines in step S140 that one of the adjustment
direction arrows Ty is touched by the user, the control section 103
advances the process to step S145. On the other hand, when the
control section 103 determines in step S140 that none of the
adjustment direction arrows Ty is touched by the user, the control
section 103 advances the process to step S170.
In step S145, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to switch to highlight and display, as shown in FIG. 6,
the one of the adjustment direction arrows Ty which has been
touched by the user. When the control section 103 completes the
process step of step S145, the control section 103 advances the
process to step S150. FIG. 6 shows the display screen on which the
adjustment direction arrow Ty for adjusting the cushion length so
as to move the cushion backward from the user sitting on the seat
has been touched, by the user, among the adjustment direction
arrows Ty for one of the movable portions which corresponds to the
cushion length, as an exemplary display screen which has been
processed in step S145.
In step S150, the control section 103 instructs the adjustment
section 104 to move one of the movable portions which corresponds
to the one of the adjustable item buttons Tb which is determined as
having been touched by a user in step S105, in the direction
corresponding to the one of the adjustment direction arrows Ty
which has been highlighted and displayed in step S145. When the
control section 103 completes the process step of step S150, the
control section 103 advances the process to step S155.
In step S155, the control section 103 determines whether or not the
one of the adjustment direction arrows Ty which has been
highlighted and displayed in step S145 is being still touched. When
the control section 103 determines in step S155 that the one of the
adjustment direction arrows Ty is being still touched, the control
section 103 returns the process to step S150. On the other hand,
when the control section 103 determines in step S155 that the one
of the adjustment direction arrows Ty is no longer touched, the
control section 103 advances the process to step S160.
In step S160, the control section 103 instructs the adjustment
section 104 to stop the one of the movable portions which has been
moved in step S150. When the control section 103 completes the
process step of step S160, the control section 103 advances the
process to step S165.
In step S165, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to switch to display, in the normal way, the one of the
adjustment direction arrows Ty which has been highlighted and
displayed in step S145, as shown in FIG. 5. When the control
section 103 completes the process step of step S165, the control
section 103 returns the process to step S105.
In step S170, the control section 103 determines whether or not a
button touched by a user is the front passenger's seat button Jb,
based on the touch position information Tij notified by the
display/operation section 101 in step S105. When the control
section 103 determines in step S170 that the user has touched the
front passenger' seat button Jb, the control section 103 advances
the process to step S175. On the other hand, when the control
section 103 determines in step S170 that the button touched by the
user is not the front passenger's seat button Jb, the control
section 103 advances the process to step S185.
In step S175, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to switch to highlight and display the front
passenger's seat button Mb. When the control section 103 completes
the process step of step S175, the control section 103 advances the
process to step S180.
In step S180, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to clear the whole screen and then display, on the
display screen of the display/operation section 101, the front
passenger's seat adjustment screen. More specifically, in step
S180, the control section 103 instructs the display control section
102 to display the adjustable item buttons Tb representing the
movable portions, respectively, for the front passenger's seat as
characters, and the seat shape image Sg of the front passenger's
seat, instead of the adjustable item buttons Tb for the driver's
seat and the seat shape image Sg of the driver's seat, which are
displayed in step S100. When the control section 103 completes the
process step of step S180, the control section 103 returns the
process to step S105.
In step S185, the control section 103 determines whether or not the
button having been touched in step S105 by a user is the return
button Mb, based on the touch position information Tij notified by
the display/operation section 101. When the control section 103
determines in step S185 that the user has touched the return button
Mb, the control section 103 advances the process to step S190. On
the other hand, when the control section 103 determines in step
S185 that the user does not touch the return button Mb, the control
section 103 returns the process to step S105.
In step S190, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to switch to highlight and display the return button
Mb. When the control section 103 completes the process step of step
S190, the control section 103 advances the process to step
S195.
In step S195, the control section 103 instructs the display control
section 102 to display a menu screen as shown in FIG. 3, on the
display screen of the display/operation section 101. When the
control section 103 complete the process step of step S195, the
control section 103 ends the process of the flow chart shown in
FIG. 2.
As described above, in the operation apparatus 100 according to the
first embodiment, the control section 103 highlights and displays
one of the adjustable item buttons Tb which has been touched by a
user, and displays the adjustment direction arrows Ty indicating
directions, respectively, in which one of the movable portions that
corresponds to the one of the adjustable item buttons Tb can be
adjusted, through the process steps of steps S105 to S135. Further,
a part, of the seat shape image Sg, corresponding to one of the
movable portions which is indicated by one of the adjustable item
buttons Tb that has been touched by a user is highlighted and
displayed as necessary. Thus, a user need not learn by heart the
movable portions of the seat and the names thereof by associating
the movable portions with the names, respectively, and is allowed
to easily select the movable portion of the seat which is to be
adjusted, and the adjustment direction in which the movable portion
is to be adjusted while viewing the display screen of the
display/operation section 101, thereby enabling the adjustment
without erroneous operation.
Further, when the display/operation section 101 is positioned on a
center console between a driver's seat and a front passenger's
seat, a user sitting on the driver's seat can easily adjust each
movable portion of the front passenger's seat. Moreover, when the
display/operation section 101 is positioned on the center console,
a user sitting on the front passenger's seat can easily adjust each
movable portion of each of the driver's seat and the front
passenger's seat.
Second Embodiment
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a
configuration of an operation apparatus 200 according to a second
embodiment of the present invention. The operation apparatus 200
according to the second embodiment is different from the operation
apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment in that, in the
operation apparatus 200, a display control section 201, a control
section 202, and an adjustment section 203 are used instead of the
display control section 102, the control section 103, and the
adjustment section 104, respectively. Therefore, the components of
the operation apparatus 200 which are the same as used in the
operation apparatus 100 are denoted by the same reference numerals
as used for the operation apparatus 100, and the description
thereof is not given.
The display control section 201 acquires positional information Ij
notified by the control section 202 as well as performs the process
performed by the display control section 102. Further, the display
control section 201 displays an animation in which a portion of the
seat shape image Sg is moved, in accordance with an instruction
from the control section 202.
The control section 202 acquires, from the adjustment section 203,
the positional information Ij corresponding to the movable portion
being moved, and notifies the display control section 201 of the
positional information Ij as well as performs the process performed
by the control section 103. Further, the control section 202
instructs the display control section 201 to display, based on the
positional information Ij having been acquired, an animation of an
image of a portion which corresponds to the movable portion being
moved, and is included in the seat shape image Sg displayed on the
display screen of the display/operation section 101.
The adjustment section 203 includes sensors for detecting positions
of the movable portions, respectively, of the seat, and performs a
process for generating the positional information Ij representing
positions of the movable portions, respectively, of the seat as
well as performs the operation performed by the adjustment section
104.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an operation performed by the
control section 202. The control section 202 performs the same
process steps as performed by the control section 103 as shown in
the flow chart of FIG. 2 but performs, in step S150 to step S165,
process steps different from the process steps performed by the
control section 103. Therefore, in the flow chart shown in FIG. 8,
only process steps of steps S150 to S165 performed by the control
section 202 will be described. Hereinafter, the process performed
by the control section 202 will be described.
When the control section 202 completes the process step of step
S150, the control section 202 advances the process to step S151. In
step S151, the control section 202 acquires, from the adjustment
section 203, the positional information Ij of the movable portion
to be moved in accordance with an instruction issued in step S150.
When the control section 202 completes the process step of step
S151, the control section 202 advances the process to step
S152.
In step S152, the control section 202 notifies the display control
section 201 of the positional information Ij having been acquired
in step S151. The control section 202 instructs the display control
section 201 to display, based on the positional information Ij, an
animation of an image of a portion which is included in the seat
shape image Sg and corresponds to the movable portion being moved,
in accordance with the movement distance for the movable portion
and the direction to be adjusted therefor. When the control section
202 completes the process step of step S152, the control section
202 advances the process to step S155.
In step S152, as a method in which the display control section 201
displays an animation of a portion of the seat shape image Sg on
the display screen of the display/operation section 101 in response
to the instruction from the control section 103, for example, the
following two methods can be used. In the first method, a display
coordinate of an image of a portion of the seat shape image Sg
displayed on the display screen of the display/operation section
101 is changed, based on the positional information Ij notified by
the control section 202, at predetermined time intervals. In the
second method, a plurality of kinds of the seat shape images Sg
corresponding to the positions, respectively, to which each movable
portion is moved may be previously stored in the storage section
105, and one of the seat shape images Sg which corresponds to the
positional information Ij notified by the control section 202 may
be read from the storage section 105 at predetermined time
intervals, and displayed on the display screen of the
display/operation section 101. In the first method, it is
unnecessary to previously store the plurality of kinds of the seat
shape images Sg in the storage section 105, and the capacity of the
storage section 105 can be saved. On the other hand, in the second
method, the display control section 201 is allowed to display the
animation simply by reading the image from the storage section 105
in accordance with the positional information Ij notified by the
control section 202, and displaying the image on the display screen
of the display/operation section 101. Therefore, in the second
method, the processing load of the display control section 201 can
be reduced.
The process steps of steps S155 to S160 performed by the control
section 202 are the same as performed by the control section 103,
and the description thereof is not given.
When the control section 202 completes the process step of step
S160, the control section 202 advances the process to step S161. In
step S161, the control section 202 instructs the display control
section 201 to stop displaying, on the display screen, the
animation of an image of the portion corresponding to the movable
portion. When the control section 202 completes the process step of
step S161, the control section 202 advances the process to step
S165. Step S165 and the process steps following step S165 are the
same as performed by the control section 103, and the description
thereof is not given.
As described above, according to the second embodiment, while the
control section 202 repeats the process steps of steps S150 to
S155, that is, while a user continues to touch one of the
adjustment direction arrows Ty on the display screen of the
display/operation section 101 to move the specified movable portion
of the seat, an animation of a portion which corresponds to the
movable portion and is included in the seat shape image Sg can be
displayed. In the process step of step S161, in accordance with the
movement of the movable portion being stopped, the control section
202 is able to stop displaying the animation of the portion which
corresponds to the stopped portion and is included in the seat
shape image Sg. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, a
state of the movable portion of the seat which is being actually
moved can be represented on the display screen of the
display/operation section 101, thereby enabling a display which can
be easily recognized by a user to be provided.
Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be
described. FIG. 7, which is used for describing the second
embodiment, is a block diagram also illustrating an outline of a
configuration of an operation apparatus 300 according to the third
embodiment. The operation apparatus 300 according to the third
embodiment is different from the operation apparatus 100 according
to the first embodiment in that, in the operation apparatus 300, a
display control section 301, a control section 302, and an
adjustment section 303 are used instead of the display control
section 102, the control section 103, and the adjustment section
104, respectively. Therefore, the component of the operation
apparatus 300 which are the same as used in the operation apparatus
100 are denoted by the same reference numerals as used for the
operation apparatus 100, and the description thereof is not
given.
The display control section 301 displays, on the display screen of
the display/operation section 101, an allowable-movement range
image Kh representing a range in which the movable portion to be
moved can be moved, as shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with an
instruction form the control section 302, as well as performs the
process performed by the display control section 102. Further, the
display control section 301 displays, on the display screen of the
display/operation section 101, a current position image Gi
representing a current position of the movable portion being moved,
based on the positional information Ij notified by the control
section 302 such that the current position image Gi is superimposed
on the allowable-movement range image Kh.
The control section 302 instructs the display control section 301
to display, when a user selects one of the movable portions of the
seat, the allowable-movement range image Kh for the corresponding
one of the movable portions, on the display screen, based on the
touch position information Tij notified by the display/operation
section 101, as well as performs the process performed by the
control section 103. Further, the control section 302 notifies the
display control section 301 of the positional information Ij
notified by the adjustment section 303. Moreover, the control
section 302 instructs the display control section 301 to display
the current position image Gi representing a current position of
the movable portion being moved, based on the positional
information Ij notified by the adjustment section 303 so as to
superimpose the current position image Gi on the allowable-movement
range image Kh.
The adjustment section 303 includes sensors for detecting the
movement distances of the movable portions, respectively, of the
seat, and performs a process for generating the positional
information Ij of the adjusted positions, respectively, of the seat
as well as performs the operation performed by the adjustment
section 104.
FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are flow charts showing the process performed
by the control section 302 according to the third embodiment. The
process performed by the control section 302 is different from the
process performed by the control section 103 in that the control
section 302 performs process steps of steps S200 to S210, and S215
to S240 as well as the process steps which are performed by the
control section 103 and shown in the flow chart of FIG. 2.
Therefore, the process steps performed by the control section 302
which are the same as performed by the control section 103 are
denoted by the same step numbers as used for the control section
103, and the description thereof is not given. Hereinafter, the
process performed by the control section 302 will be described.
Firstly, the process performed by the control section 302 will be
described with reference to FIG. 10A. When the control section 302
completes the process step of step S135, the control section 302
advances the process to step S200. In step S200, the control
section 302 instructs the display control section 102 to display,
on the display screen of the display/operation section 101, the
allowable-movement range image Kh of the movable portion of the
seat which corresponds to the one of the adjustable item buttons Tb
which has been highlighted and displayed in step S130. FIG. 9 is a
diagram illustrating, as an example, the display screen of the
display/operation section 101 on which the allowable-movement range
image Kh is displayed in accordance with a user touching one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb which corresponds to the cushion length.
When the control section 302 completes the process step of step
S200, the control section 302 advances the process to step
S205.
In step S205, the control section 302 acquires, from the adjustment
section 303, the positional information Ij of the movable portion,
of the seat, corresponding to the one of the adjustable item
buttons Tb which has been highlighted and displayed in step S130.
When the control section 302 completes the process step of step
S205, the control section 302 advances the process to step
S210.
In step S210, the control section 302 notifies the display control
section 301 of the positional information Ij having been acquired
in step S205. The control section 302 instructs the display control
section 102 to display the current position image Gi described
above so as to superimpose the current position image Gi on the
allowable-movement range image Kh displayed in step S200, based on
the positional information Ij having been notified. FIG. 9 shows,
as an example, the display screen of the display/operation section
101 on which the current position image Gi representing the current
length of the cushion is displayed so as to be superimposed on the
allowable-movement range image Kh. When the control section 302
completes the process step of step S210, the control section 302
returns the process to step S105.
When the control section 302 determines in step S140 that a user
touches none of the adjustment direction arrows Ty, the control
section 302 advances the process to step S215. Hereinafter, the
process performed by the control section 302 will be described with
reference to FIG. 10B. In step S215, the control section 302
determines whether or not an item button having been touched by a
user in step S105 is the allowable-movement range image Kh. When
the control section 302 determines in step S215 that the user has
touched the allowable-movement range image Kh, the control section
302 advances the process to step S220. On the other hand, when the
control section 302 determines in step S215 that the user does not
touch the allowable-movement range image Kh, the control section
302 advance the process to step S170.
In step S220, the control section 302 instructs the adjustment
section 303 to move the movable portion of the seat to the movement
position corresponding to the position, on the allowable-movement
range image Kh, which has been touched by the user. When the
control section 302 completes the process step of step S220, the
control section 302 advances the process to step S225.
In step S225, the control section 302 acquires, from the adjustment
section 303, the positional information Ij representing the current
position of the movable portion of the seat which has been moved in
step S220. When the control section 302 completes the process step
of step S225, the control section 302 advances the process to step
S230.
In step S230, the control section 302 instructs the display control
section 102 to display the current position image Gi so as to be
superimposed at a corresponding position on the allowable-movement
range image Kh, based on the positional information Ij having been
acquired in step S225. When the control section 302 completes the
process step of step S230, the control section 302 advances the
process to step S235.
In step S235, the control section 302 determines whether or not the
movable portion of the seat being moved has been moved to the
movement position corresponding to the position, on the
allowable-movement range image Kh, which is determined as having
been touched in step S215, based on the positional information Ij
having been acquired in step S225. When the control section 302
determines in step S235 that the movable portion of the seat has
been moved to the movement position corresponding to the position,
on the allowable-movement range image Kh, which has been touched by
the user, the control section 302 advances the process to step
S240. On the other hand, when the control section 302 determines in
step S235 that the movable portion of the seat has not been moved
to the movement position corresponding to the position, on the
allowable-movement range image Kh, which has been touched by the
user, the control section 302 returns the process to step S220.
In step S240, the control section 302 instructs the adjustment
section 303 to stop the movable portion of the seat which is being
moved. When the control section 302 completes the process step of
step S240, the control section 302 returns the process to step
S105.
As described above, the operation apparatus 300 according to the
third embodiment displays, when a user selects one of the movable
portions of the seat by touching one of the adjustable item buttons
Tb, the allowable-movement range image Kh representing the movement
range in which the one of the movable portions can be moved, and
the current position image Gi representing the current position of
the selected one of the movable portions, on the display screen of
the display/operation section 101. Thus, a user is able to easily
recognize the movement range in which the movable portion can be
moved, and the current position of the movable portion in the
movement range, which are not recognizable only by visually
checking the movable portions of the seat directly. Further, the
operation apparatus 300 enables the destination of the movable
portion to be directly indicated through a single operation by a
user directly touching a position on the allowable-movement range
image Kh.
Fourth Embodiment
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an
operation apparatus 400 according to a fourth embodiment. The
operation apparatus 400 according to the fourth embodiment is
different form the operation apparatus 100 according to the first
embodiment in that, in the operation apparatus 400, a display
section 401, a display control section 402, and a control section
403 are used instead of the display/operation section 101, the
display control section 102, and the control section 103,
respectively. The operation apparatus 400 further includes an
operation section 404.
The display section 401 is a display section which includes a
display screen but includes no touch display, unlike the
display/operation section 101, and displays an image obtained by
processing an image read from the storage section 105 by the
display control section 402.
The display control section 402 performs a process of highlighting
and displaying, in accordance with an instruction from the control
section 403, a frame of the item button which is provisionally
selected from among the item buttons displayed on the display
screen as well as performs the process performed by the display
control section 102.
The control section 403 acquires an operation signal Ss generated
by the operation section 404, and determines one of the item
buttons or one of the adjustment direction arrows Ty which has been
selected by a user, based on the operation signal Ss having been
acquired. The control section 403 issues, to the display control
section 402, an instruction based on the operation signal Ss
generated by the operation section 404, and instructs the
adjustment section 104 to move one of the movable portions of the
seat. The operation performed by the control section 403 will be
described in detail below.
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are diagrams illustrating an exemplary
operation device which can be used as the operation section 404
according to the fourth embodiment. The operation section 404 shown
in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 mainly includes a joystick 20 mounted so as
to be inclinable in the forward/backward direction and the
left/right direction, an operation switch 3, and an operation
switch 4. The operation section 404 detects whether or not the
joystick 20 is inclined, or whether or not one of the operation
switch 3 or the operation switch 4 is pressed, and generates the
detection result as the operation signal Ss. For example, when a
user inclines the joystick 20 of the operation section 404 in one
of the directions, the operation section 404 generates the
operation signal Ss indicating the one of the directions in which
the joystick 20 is inclined. The control section 403 acquires the
operation signal Ss generated by the operation section 404. At this
time, the control section 403 determines that the selected item
button has been changed as a provisionally selected item button to
one of the item buttons which is displayed at the position, on the
display screen, based on the direction in which the joystick 20 is
inclined, and instructs the display control section 402 to change
the display of the item button in accordance with the change. The
provisional selection will be specifically described below.
Further, the operation switch 3 and the operation switch 4 included
in the operation section 404 are, for example, electrical contact
switches, and perform a function of "determination" switch and a
function of "return" switch, respectively, in a process which is
shown in the flow charts of FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B. The operation
section 404 generates the operation signal Ss indicating that one
of the operation switch 3 or the operation switch 4 is pressed by a
user as in the case of the joystick 20 being inclined.
FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are flow charts illustrating a process
performed by the control section 403 according to the fourth
embodiment. In the process shown in the flow charts of FIG. 14A and
FIG. 14B, a state in which the determination switch described above
is pressed when the seat button is selected on the menu screen
shown in FIG. 3, and a display on the display screen of the display
section 401 is changed to a display of a seat adjustment screen for
a driver's seat, and thereafter one of the item buttons is
provisionally selected on the seat adjustment screen, and a frame
of the provisionally selected item button is highlighted and
displayed, is an initial state. FIG. 15 shows the display screen of
the display section 401 in which, for example, a frame of one of
the adjustable item buttons Tb which represents the cushion length
and is provisionally selected, is highlighted and displayed.
Needless to say, in the initial state, the item button which is
provisionally selected and has its frame highlighted and displayed
may be any one of the item buttons displayed on the display screen
of the display section 401.
Next, the provisional selection will be specifically described. In
the present embodiment, when the control section 403 performs the
process shown in the flow charts of FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B, one of
the adjustable item buttons Tb, or one of the front passenger's
seat button Jb or the return button Mb may be provisionally
selected. A state in which one of the adjustable item buttons Tb is
provisionally selected does not represent a state in which one of
the adjustment direction arrows Ty is actually selected and the
associated movable portion is moved, but represents a state in
which, when one of the adjustable item buttons Tb is selected,
selection of one of the adjustment direction arrows Ty of the
movable portion corresponding to the one of the adjustable item
buttons Tb is enabled by the determination switch described above
being pressed. Further, a state in which the front passenger's seat
button Jb is provisionally selected represents a state in which,
when the front passenger's seat button is selected, display of the
seat adjustment screen for the front passenger's seat is enabled by
the determination switch described above being pressed. Further, a
state in which the return button Mb is provisionally selected
represents a state in which, when the return button is selected,
display of the menu screen shown in FIG. 3 is enabled by the
determination switch described above being pressed. Moreover, the
provisional selection state also represents a state in which the
provisionally selected button can be switched among the front
passenger's seat button Jb, the return button Mb, and one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb simply by the joystick 20 being
inclined. Further, when the determination switch described above is
pressed in a state where one of the item buttons described above is
provisionally selected, the provisional section state is switched
to a final selection state for the one of the item buttons.
Hereinafter, the process performed by the control section 403 will
be described in detail with reference to FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B.
In step S400, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
joystick 20 has been inclined by a user. When the control section
403 determines in step S400 that the joystick has been inclined,
the control section 403 advances the process to step S405. On the
other hand, when the control section 403 determines in step S400
that the joystick is not inclined, the control section 403 advances
the process to step S435.
In step S405, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 402 to switch to display, in the normal way, a frame of one
of the item buttons which has been provisionally selected and
highlighted and displayed on the display screen. When the control
section 403 completes the process step of step S405, the control
section 403 advances the process to step S410.
In step S410, the control section 403 determines whether or not one
of the adjustment direction arrows Ty for one of the movable
portions is displayed on the display screen. When the control
section 403 determines in step S410 that one of the adjustment
direction arrows Ty is displayed, the control section 403 advances
the process to step S415. On the other hand, when the control
section 403 determines in step S410 that none of the adjustment
direction arrows Ty is displayed, the control section 403 skips the
process step of step S415, and advances the process to step S420.
When it is determined in step S410 that none of the adjustment
direction arrows Ty is displayed, one of the front passenger's seat
button Jb or the return button Mb may be provisionally selected
from among the item buttons displayed on the display screen, in the
initial state described above, and the adjustment direction arrow
Ty for the provisionally selected item button may not exist, for
example,
In step S415, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 402 to erase, from the display screen, one of the
adjustment direction arrows Ty which is displayed on the display
screen. When the control section 403 completes the process step of
step S415, the control section 403 advances the process to step
S420.
In step S420, the control section 403 determines one of items
buttons which is being provisionally selected, based on the
direction in which the joystick is inclined, and instructs the
display control section 402 to highlight and display a frame of the
one of the item buttons which has been determined. When the control
section 403 completes the process step of step S420, the control
section 403 advances the process to step S425.
In step S425, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
one of the item buttons which has been provisionally selected in
step S420 is one of the adjustable item buttons Tb described above.
When the control section 403 determine in step S425 that one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb is provisionally selected, the control
section 403 advances the process to step S430. On the other hand,
when the control section 403 determines in step S425 that none of
the adjustable item buttons Tb is provisionally selected, the
control section 403 returns the process to step S400.
In step S430, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 402 to display, on the display screen, the adjustment
direction arrows Ty for the one of the adjustable item buttons Tb
which has been highlighted and displayed in step S420. When the
control section 403 completes the process step of step S430, the
control section 403 returns the process to step S400.
In step S435, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
determination switch of the operation section 404 has been pressed.
When the control section 403 determines in step S435 that the
determination switch has been pressed, the control section 403
advances the process to step S450. On the other hand, when the
control section 403 determines in step S435 that the determination
switch is not pressed, the control section 403 advances the process
to step S440.
In step S440, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
return switch of the operation section 404 has been pressed. When
the control section 403 determines in step S440 that the return
switch has been pressed, the control section 403 advances the
process to step S445. On the other hand, when the control section
403 determines in step S440 that the return switch is not pressed,
the control section 403 returns the process to step S400.
In step S445, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 402 to display the menu screen shown in FIG. 3, on the
display screen of the display section 401. When the control section
403 completes the process step of step S445, the control section
403 ends the process shown in the flow charts of FIG. 14A and FIG.
14B.
In step S450, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 402 to finally select one of the item buttons which has
been provisionally selected when the determination switch is
pressed in step 435, and switch to highlight and display the whole
button as shown in FIG. 5. When the control section 403 completes
the process step of step S450, the control section 403 advances the
process to step S455. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary
display of the display screen on which the whole adjustable item
button Tb of the cushion length is highlighted and displayed after
the process step of step S450. Further, needless to say, the
finally selected one of the item buttons the entire of which is
highlighted and displayed in step S450 may be not only one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb as shown in FIG. 5 but also any one of
the front passenger's seat button Jb or the return button Mb.
In step S455, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
button which has been finally selected when the determination
button is pressed in step S435 is one of the adjustable item
buttons Tb. When the control section 403 determines in step S455
that the finally selected button is one of the adjustable item
buttons Tb, the control section 403 advances the process to step
S475. On the other hand, when the control section 403 determines in
step S455 that the finally selected button is not one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb, the control section 403 advances the
process to step S460.
In step S460, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
front passenger's seat button Jb has been finally selected when the
determination button is pressed in step S435. When the control
section 403 determines in step S460 that the front passenger's seat
button Jb has been finally selected, the control section 403
advances the process to step S465. On the other hand, when the
control section 403 determines in step S460 that the front
passenger's seat button Jb has not been finally selected, the
control section 403 advances the process to step S470.
In step S465, the control section 403 erases the whole display on
the display screen of the display section 401, and thereafter
instructs the display control section 402 to display the seat shape
image Sg for the front passenger's seat and the adjustable item
buttons Tb therefor. When the control section 403 completes the
process step of step S465, the control section 403 returns the
process to step S400.
In step S470, the control section 403 determines that the return
button Mb has been finally selected when the determination button
is pressed in step S435, and instructs the display control section
402 to display the menu screen shown in FIG. 3. When the control
section 403 completes the process step of step S470, the control
section 403 ends the process shown in the flow charts of FIG. 14A
and FIG. 14B.
In step S475, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 102 to highlight and display, as shown in FIG. 6, one of
the adjustment direction arrows Ty which are displayed on the
display screen. When the control section 403 completes the process
step of step S475, the control section 403 advances the process to
step S480. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating, as an exemplary
display screen displayed after step S475, the display screen on
which the adjustment direction arrow Ty for adjusting the cushion
length in the direction of the back of a user sitting on the seat
is highlighted and displayed among the adjustment direction arrows
Ty for the movable portion corresponding to the cushion length.
Hereinafter, the process performed by the control section 403 will
be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 14B. In step
S480, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
joystick has been inclined. When the control section 403 determines
in step S480 that the joystick has been inclined, the control
section 403 advances the process to step S485. On the other hand,
when the control section 403 determines in step S480 that the
joystick is not inclined, the control section 403 advances the
process to step S490.
In step S485, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 102 to switch to display, in the normal way, one of the
adjustment direction arrows Ty which has been highlighted and
displayed before the joystick 20 is determined in step S480 as
having been inclined, as shown in FIG. 5. When the control section
403 completes the process step of step S485, the control section
403 advances the process to step S490.
In step S490, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 402 to change one of the adjustment direction arrows Ty to
be highlighted and displayed, from one of the adjustment direction
arrows Ty which has been highlighted and displayed before the
joystick 20 is determined in step S480 as being inclined, to one of
the adjustment direction arrows Ty which indicates a direction
corresponding to the direction in which the joystick has been
inclined in step S480. When the control section 403 completes the
process step of step S490, the control section 403 returns the
process to step S480.
In step S495, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
determination switch of the operation section 404 has been pressed.
When the control section 403 determines in step S495 that the
determination switch has been pressed, the control section 403
advances the process to step S500. On the other hand, when the
control section 403 determines in step S495 that the determination
switch is not pressed, the control section 403 advances the process
to step S515.
In step S500, the control section 403 instructs the adjustment
section 104 to move the movable portion corresponding to one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb which has been finally selected in step
S495, in the direction corresponding to the one of the adjustment
direction arrows Ty which is highlighted and displayed when the
process step of step S500 is to be performed. When the control
section 403 completes the process step of step S500, the control
section 403 advances the process to step S505.
In step S505, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
determination switch having been pressed in step S495 is being
still pressed. When the control section 403 determines in step S505
that the determination switch is being still pressed, the control
section 403 returns the process to step S500. On the other hand,
when the control section 403 determines in step S505 that the
determination switch is no longer pressed, the control section 403
advances the process to step S510.
In step S510, the control section 403 instructs the adjustment
section 104 to stop the movable portion having been moved in step
S500. When the control section 403 completes the process step of
step S510, the control section 403 returns the process to step
S480.
In step S515, the control section 403 determines whether or not the
return switch of the operation section 404 has been pressed. When
the control section 403 determines in step S515 that the return
switch has been pressed, the control section 403 advances the
process to step S520. On the other hand, when the control section
403 determines in step S515 that the return switch is not pressed,
the control section 403 returns the process to step S480.
In step S520, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 402 to switch to display, in the normal way, one of the
adjustment direction arrows Ty which is highlighted and displayed.
When the control section 403 completes the process step of step
S520, the control section 403 advances the process to step
S525.
In step S525, the control section 403 instructs the display control
section 402 to switch to highlight and display a frame of the
adjustable item button Tb the entire of which has been highlighted
and displayed, and which is associated with the one of the
adjustment direction arrows Ty which has been displayed in the
normal way in step S520. Specifically, the control section 403
performs the process steps of steps S515 to S525, thereby returning
one of the adjustable item buttons Tb which has been finally
selected to the provisional selection state. When the control
section 403 completes the process step of step S525, the control
section 403 returns the process to step S400.
As described above, the operation apparatus 400 according to the
fourth embodiment enables the same effect as obtained in the first
to the third embodiments even when the display/operation section
101, that is, a touch panel, which is used in the operation
apparatus according to each of the first to the third embodiments,
is not used. Further, according to the present embodiment, a
position at which the operation section 404 is mounted can be
freely determined. For example, in the present embodiment, it is
possible to provide an operation apparatus which enables both a
driver and a front passenger to easily adjust both the seats
thereof when the operation section 404 is positioned on a center
console of a car.
A shape of a driver's seat may be different from a shape of a front
passenger's seat depending on a car in some cases. Further, in
general, a shape of a driver's seat is different from a shape of a
rear seat. When the shapes of the seats are different from each
other, the movable portions may be different among the seats.
Therefore, in the operation apparatus according to each embodiment,
the seat shape images Sg to be displayed on the display screen of
the display/operation section 101 may be different depending on the
shapes of the seats to be adjusted. Thus, even a vehicle having
mounted therein seats having different shapes from each other
enables the same effect as obtained by the operation apparatuses
according to each embodiment.
Further, in each embodiment, when a user touches one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb, an image corresponding to the movable
portion represented by the one of the adjustable item buttons Tb
may be enlarged and displayed on the seat shape image Sg. Thus, a
display which enables a user to recognize, with enhanced ease, the
movable portion which is currently selected can be provided.
Further, in each embodiment, the movable portion is selected when a
position corresponding to a display position of one of the
adjustable item buttons Tb is touched or when the operation section
404 is operated for selecting one of the adjustable item buttons
Tb. However, in each embodiment, the adjustable item buttons Tb may
not be displayed on the display screen, and the movable portion may
be selected when a position corresponding to a display position of
a part of the seat shape image Sg which corresponds to the movable
portion is touched or when the operation section 404 is operated
for selecting a part of the seat shape image Sg which corresponds
to the movable portion.
Further, it is added that, in the process described with reference
to the flow chart for each embodiment, the display control section
controls the display of the display screen of the display/operation
section or the display section immediately after the display
control section receives an instruction from the control
section.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
According to the present invention, an operation apparatus which
can display, on a display screen, the adjustment direction arrows
for an adjustable portion which is selected from all portions to be
adjusted can be provided, and used as, for example, an operation
apparatus for operating an in-vehicle device mounted to a vehicle
such as a car.
* * * * *